Sponsor

Sponsor

Schumer: Dems ready to go-it-alone on health care

A leading Senate Democrat said Monday his
party is determined to push through a health care overhaul bill
with or without Republican support because the "system is
broken."

"We prefer to go at it with Republicans if we can reach
compromises in some areas," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.
"But we're not going to not pass a bill."

Schumer dueled with Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison on a
network morning news show in the wake of a key Senate vote Saturday
night that advanced a 10-year, $959 billion health bill to full
debate. Hutchison argued that "you're going to put taxes and
mandates on business" that would be a drag on an economy still
struggling to recover from recession.

Congressional Democrats are trying to resolve differences within
their rank and file over abortion, taxes and letting the government
sell health insurance as a competitor with private insurers. Those
are all crucial policy questions, and House and Senate Democrats
have taken conflicting approaches.

Appearing on NBC's "Today" show Monday, Schumer said, "We all
know we have to give a little. ... If we don't do anything, that is
the worst situation, and we have a good bill." He said lawmakers
must come together because "the health care system is broken."

Schumer argued that Republican critics "haven't put any
alternative on the floor."

Hutchison called it "a terrible idea at this time." She said
that Republicans "have put alternatives on the floor," including
individual tax credits that would not include cutting Medicare and
permitting a government takeover of the health care system.

Hutchison is challenging incumbent Republican Rick Perry for
Texas' governorship and is a near certain vote against any
Democratic health care plan. However, Senate leaders hope to
persuade moderate Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, who voted for a
Democratic bill in the Finance Committee, to back final
legislation.

The Democratic measures would leave 12 million or more eligible
Americans uninsured. Many middle-class families who'd now be
required to buy coverage would still find the premiums a stretch,
even with government aid. A new federal fund to provide temporary
coverage for people with health problems would quickly run out of
cash.

For now, these bread-and-butter concerns take a back seat to
more pressing issues for Democratic lawmakers trying to deliver on
President Barack Obama's signature issue.

The House passed its health care bill 220-215 earlier this
month. The Senate cleared the way Saturday for debate on
legislation unveiled by Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. The
bill, a compromise between two committee-passed versions, could
undergo significant changes as senators amend it during weeks of
arduous debate ahead.

Both bills would require all Americans to carry health
insurance, with government help to make premiums more affordable.
They would ban insurance companies from denying coverage or
charging more to people with health problems. They would set up new
insurance markets for those who now have the hardest time finding
and keeping coverage - self-employed people and small businesses.
Americans insured through big employer plans would gain new
consumer protections but wouldn't face major changes. Seniors would
get better prescription coverage.

"For the first time, we're going to allow American consumers to
be involved in a buyers' market for health insurance," said Sen.
Chris Dodd, D-Conn., one of the authors of the Senate bill. "This
Congress is going to pass, and this president is going to sign, a
national health care program for all Americans."

Before any signing ceremony, lawmakers must clear some tall hurdles.

On abortion funding, the House adopted strict limitations as the
price for getting anti-abortion Democrats to vote for the final
bill. Abortion rights supporters are backing Reid's approach in the
Senate bill, which tries to preserve coverage for abortion while
stipulating that federal dollars may not be used except in cases of
rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother.

In the end, Reid may have to bend. Catholic bishops say they
can't accept his approach because it would let federally subsidized
plans cover abortion. They vow to oppose the health care bill
unless, like the House, the Senate enacts stronger language.
Democratic senators opposed to abortion are already threatening a
battle.

On financing, the House relies mainly on an income tax hike for
upper-earners to pay for expanded coverage. The Senate opted for a
tax on high-cost insurance plans, a Medicare payroll tax hike on
the wealthy and fees on medical industries. In polls, the House
approach is more popular. The Obama administration has signaled it
likes the Senate's insurance tax.

That leaves the controversy over a creating a government health
plan to compete with the insurance industry. It has dominated the
debate and remains unresolved.

Both House and Senate bills now provide for a government
insurance plan, but Reid's bill would let states opt out. It's not
clear that Reid has the votes. He may be able to get a compromise
to allow a government plan only if, after a reasonable time,
insurance companies fail to deliver lower premiums.

Resolving these policy issues would be a historic accomplishment
for Democrats. But the bill could still leave consumers feeling a
little cheated.